I always am in awe at the wonder of the season of fall. On their way to dying, the leaves on the trees become breathtakingly beautiful before falling to the ground leaving them barren in the winter. Soon however, spring comes and the new buds of flowering leaves are visible to us, and it is just a matter of time before the trees will be filled again. Without emptying its branches it would be impossible to obtain new life.
This always reminds me of the spiritual life. The call for us to empty ourselves before Christ, and to embrace that emptiness so that God can fill it with Himself.
I don’t know about you, but instead of accepting it, even though I know its merits, I fight against the emptiness. My human nature completely rebels against it, and as much as I hate to admit it, I know I am my own worst enemy. I am always getting in my own way on the road to heaven.
As soon as I feel that void, I seek to fill it up, most times with one of my many vices; anything to avoid the void. I busy myself with trivial things. I run around or feed my emotions with a variety of different things, from food to other means of entertainment. Most times, I do everything but what I know I should be doing: embracing the emptiness, trusting that the only One who truly can fill that void is at work in me.
“Love to be real, it must cost—it must hurt—it must empty us of self.”
–Mother Teresa
May we each this Advent season willingly empty ourselves like the trees in the fall, so that Jesus Himself can fill us with His life. – Theresa
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